WO2019123042A1

WO2019123042A1 - Tillage implement having hydraulic down-pressure

Info

Publication number: WO2019123042A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/058659
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jarret Lee BRINKER; Jeffrey Scott Hughes; Joseph Shawn Meier
Original assignee: Agco Corporation
Priority date: 2017-12-21
Filing date: 2018-11-05
Publication date: 2019-06-27
Also published as: US11849660B2; US20210368669A1; CA3083640A1

Abstract

A tillage implement (10) has a frame (12) with a center section (14) and first and second outer wing sections (16) hingedly attached the center section (14) such that the wing sections (16) can be operably raised and lowered between a field-working position and a transport position. The sections (14) each carry tillage tools (40) for working the soil. Controlling a precharge in a secondary side (82) of the hydraulic circuit (60, 74) enables the operator of the implement (10) to adjust the downward pressure precharge provided by a plurality of hydraulic cylinders (72A, 72B) based on a desired stiffness of the implement (10). A pressure reducing valve (80) is used to command flow from the hydraulic supply (76) and put downward pressure precharge on the plurality of tillage tools (40). Once this desired precharge has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply (76) is shut off and the blocking valve (90) holds the pressure such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders (72A, 72B) holds the tillage tools (40) in position.

Description

Tillage Implement Having Hydraulic Down-Pressure

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

[0001] This invention relates generally to agricultural implements and, more particularly to multi-section tillage implements having ground engaging tillage tools.

Description of Related Art

[0002] Many agricultural tillage implements utilize a depth control system for positioning the height of the implement relative to the soil. The depth control system typically uses the main lift wheels to set the depth of the ground engaging tools. Depending on the soil conditions expected to be encountered by the implement, the depth control system is adjusted to preselect a desired tillage depth. Hydraulic cylinders mounted to the implement are typically used to adjust the depth.

[0003] When a tillage implement has multiple ground engaging tools that can be set independently to different depths, the depth setting of each individual ground engaging tool can be hard to set and can affect the performance of the other ground engaging tools. This can be in such ways as the depth setting of a first ground engaging tool fighting the depth of a second ground engaging tool by raising the second tool out of the ground, thereby hindering performance and affecting field finish. Depth setting changes are also time consuming and not very convenient. Being able to automate the depth setting process would speed up the process and help farmers make the adjustments they should be making as well as make the settings more consistent.

OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION [0004] In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a tillage implement having a frame with a center section and first and second outer wing sections hingedly attached to respective outer ends of the center section such that the first and second wing sections can be operably raised and lowered between a field-working position and a transport position. The center section and the first and second outer wing sections each carry tillage tools for working the soil as the tillage implement is advanced across a field. The tillage implement includes a gang assembly on which a plurality of tillage tools are mounted, the gang assembly including a left arm, a center arm, and a right arm, each of the left, center and right arms having a rotating shaft that is supported on a support bar. The support bar of each arm is mounted to a respective left, center and right rock shaft, each of the left, center and right rock shaft supported for rotational movement relative to the frame. The tillage implement has a hydraulic down-pressure system configured to act upon the gang assembly. The hydraulic down-pressure system includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinders extend between the frame and the left, center and right rock shafts and are configured to rotate the rock shafts. The plurality of hydraulic cylinders connect to the plurality of tillage tools through the rock shafts such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders provide a downward pressure precharge on the tillage tools. The hydraulic down-pressure system includes a hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic down-pressure system. The hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic supply in a primary side of the hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic down-pressure system includes a pressure reducing valve configured to regulate a pressure in a secondary side of the hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit includes a blocking valve configured to isolate the pressure reducing valve and hydraulic circuit from the hydraulic supply and a pressure gage configured to read the pressure in the secondary side of the circuit and is used so that an operator may use the pressure reducing valve to manually set the pressure in the secondary side.

[0005] Controlling the precharge in the secondary side of the hydraulic circuit enables the operator of the implement to adjust the downward pressure precharge provided by the plurality of hydraulic cylinders based on a desired stiffness of the implement. The pressure reducing valve is used to command flow from the hydraulic supply through the pressure reducing valve and put downward pressure precharge on the plurality of tillage tools. Once this desired downward pressure precharge has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply is shut off and the blocking valve holds the pressure such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders hold their respective tillage tools in the desired position.

[0006] In one aspect, the tillage implement includes frame supporting wheels, the frame supporting wheels being mounted to wheel mounting spars which are rigidly attached to a rock shaft with the rock shaft mounted to the frame for rotational movement relative to the frame controlled by a depth control system. The depth control system includes an actuation mechanism used to rotate the rock shaft and move the frame relative the frame supporting wheels upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the working depth of the tools.

[0007] These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tillage implement according to the invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the tillage implement of FIG. 1 ;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a hydraulic circuit of the tillage implement with a pressure reducing valve; and

[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the hydraulic circuit of the tillage implement having an alternate pressure reducing valve. [0013] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.

[0015] The tillage implement 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has been selected as but one of many different possible examples of machines with which the present invention may be utilized. In the illustrated embodiment, implement 10 is a three-section folding machine having frame 12 with a center section 14 and two outer wing section 16 hingedly attached to respective outer ends of center section 14. The frame 12 is supported above the ground by frame supporting wheels 18. As well known in the art, wing section 16 can "flex" about respective fore-and-aft axes at hinge points so as to accommodate changes in ground contour experienced locally by the sections of the implement 10. In addition, hydraulic wing lift cylinders 20 are used for raising and lowering the wing sections 16 between a field-working position (shown) and a field transport position. A tongue 24 projects forwardly from center section 14 for hitching the machine to a towing vehicle (not shown).

[0016] The frame supporting wheels 18 are mounted to wheel mounting spars 26 which are rigidly attached to a rock shaft 28. The rock shaft 28 is mounted to the frame 12 by suitable bearings 30 which support the rock shaft 28 for rotational movement relative to the frame 12 controlled by a depth control system 32. The depth control system 32 includes an actuation mechanism 36 used to rotate the rock shaft 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuation mechanism 36 includes a hydraulic cylinder extending between the frame 12 and an upwardly extending weldment 38. Thus, actuation of the cylinder 36 actuates the rock shaft 28 to pivot within the bearings 30 to move the frame 12 relative the frame supporting wheels 18 upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the working depth of the tools 22. The depth control system 32 uses suitable hydraulic valves for controlling fluid flow to the cylinder 36 as would be known in the art.

[0017] Each of the sections 14, 16 carries a plurality of tillage tools 40 such as gangs of discs, coulter blades and/or rolling tines for working the soil as the machine is advanced across a field. The plurality of tools 40 is mounted on a plurality of gang assemblies 42 attached to the main frame 12. In accordance with one example configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 , the plurality of gang assemblies 42 includes a first stage 44 of angled disc blades followed by disc gang reels intercepting the soil from the disc blades. Behind the first stage 44, the plurality of gang assemblies 42 includes a second stage 46 of wavy coulter blades. Behind the second stage 46, the plurality of gang assemblies 42 includes a third stage 48 with two rows of finishing rolling tines. However, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, different tillage tools 40 arranged on plurality of gang assemblies 42 configured in more of fewer stages may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0018] Turning also now to FIG. 2, the gang assemblies 42 of tillage tools

40 in the third stage 48 include a rear gang 50A including a left arm 52, a center arm 54, and a right arm 56. Each arm 52, 54, 56 includes a rotating shaft 58 which is supported on a support bar 60 using a shaft mounting mechanism 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the third stage 48 also includes a second gang 50B positioned forward of the rear gang 50A that is substantiality a mirror image of the rear gang 50A. It is desirable that the shafts 58 be resiliently mounted to their respective support bars 60 with a tool mounting mechanism 62 to prevent the tillage tools 40 from being damaged or broken when striking an obstacle, such as a large rock in the field. Desirably, the tool mounting mechanism 62 for the ganged tillage tools 40 are C-shaped springs that allow the shafts 58 freedom to move vertically, laterally and/or torsionally away from obstacles and hard spots to avoid damage to the tillage tools 40. The support bar 58 of each arm 52, 54, 56 of the rear gang 50A is mounted to a rock shaft 66 with suitable brackets 67 and bearings 68 which support the rock shaft 66 for rotational movement relative to the frame 12. While FIG. 2 and the description thereto focus on the third stage 48 of gang assemblies 42, one skilled in the art will understand that any of the stages of the plurality of gang assemblies 42 may be similarly mounted to the frame 12 using sound engineering judgment.

[0019] Turning also now to FIG. 3, according to the invention, the implement 10 has a hydraulic down-pressure system 70 configured to act upon at least some of the gang assemblies 42 of tillage tools 40. The hydraulic down-pressure system 70 includes plurality of hydraulic cylinders 72A, 72B, 72X used to rotate the rock shaft 66. The hydraulic cylinders 72A, 72B, 72C extend between the frame 12 and an upwardly extending weldment 74 on the rock shafts 66. While the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 2 shows three hydraulic cylinders 72A, 72B, 72C, one skilled in the art will understand that the hydraulic down-pressure system 70 may utilize additional hydraulic cylinders 72A-72X as shown in FIG. 3 without departing from the scope of the invention. As perhaps best seen in FIG. 2, the hydraulic cylinders 72A, 72B, 72C connect with tillage tools 40 through the rock shafts 66 such that cylinders 72A, 72B, 72C provide a downward pressure or precharge on the tillage tools 40. The hydraulic cylinders 72A-72X may be of conventional design well understood by those skilled in the art and need not be described in greater detail herein.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a hydraulic circuit 74 associated with the hydraulic down-pressure system 70. The hydraulic circuit 74 includes a hydraulic supply 76 in a primary side 78 of the hydraulic circuit 74. The hydraulic supply 76 is provided by the towing vehicle (not shown). The hydraulic down-pressure system 44 includes a pressure reducing valve 80 designated to act as a pressure-regulating device for a secondary side 82 of the hydraulic circuit 74. In one embodiment, the pressure reducing valve 80 is a pilot operated, sliding spool, screw in cartridge style, hydraulic pressure reducing valve. In the illustrated embodiment, a pressure gage 84 reads the pressure in the secondary side 82 of the circuit 74 and is used so that an operator may use the pressure reducing valve 80 to manually set the pressure in the secondary side 82. FIG 3B illustrates an alternate embodiment of the hydraulic circuit 74 in which the pressure gage 84 includes a suitable transducer and the pressure reducing valve 80 is electronically controlled such that the pressure in the secondary side 82 selectively controlled from the cab of the towing vehicle during operations based on the conditions encountered by the implement 10. In one embodiment, the hydraulic circuit 74 contains a pilot operated check valve 90 to isolate the pressure reducing valve 80 and hydraulic circuit 74 from the hydraulic supply 76. Alternately, a valve in the towing vehicle’s hydraulic system may be used to isolate the hydraulic down-pressure system 70.

[0021] The secondary side 82 of the hydraulic circuit 60 is configured such that hydraulic cylinders 72A-72X are configured in series such that hydraulic cylinders 72B-72X are slave cylinders to the master cylinder 72AA. In one embodiment, a first hydraulic line 92 runs between the pressure reducing valve 80 and a piston side 94 of the master cylinder 72A. A second line 96 runs between a rod side 98 of the master cylinder 72A and the piston side 100 of the slave cylinder 72B. A final line 102 runs between the rod side 104 of the slave cylinder 72X and the check valve 90. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the hydraulic cylinders 72A-72X may alternately be configured in a parallel arrangement.

[0022] Controlling the precharge in the secondary side 82 of the hydraulic circuit 74 enables the operator of the implement 10 to adjust the down pressure provided by the hydraulic cylinders 72A-72X based on desired stiffness of the implement 10 and differing field conditions. With the use of the pressure reducing valve 80 to produce a constant adjustable desired pressure, an operator is able to command flow from the towing vehicle through the pressure reducing valve 80 once the implement 10 is at its working depth as set by the depth control system 32 and put down-pressure on the tillage tools 40. Once this desired down-pressure has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply 76 from the towing vehicle can be shut off and the check or blocking valve 90 will then hold the pressure such that the cylinders 72A-72X hold the plurality of tillage tools tillage tools 40 in the desired position. [0023] The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A tillage implement having a frame with a center section and first and second outer wing sections hingedly attached to respective outer ends of the center section such that the first and second wing sections can be operably raised and lowered between a field-working position and a transport position, wherein the center section and the first and second outer wing sections carry tillage tools for working the soil as the tillage implement is advanced across a field, the tillage implement comprising:

a gang assembly on which a plurality of tillage tools are mounted, the gang assembly including a left arm, a center arm, and a right arm, each of the left, center and right arms having a rotating shaft that is supported on a support bar, wherein the support bar of each arm is mounted to a respective left, center and right rock shaft, each of the left, center and right rock shaft supported for rotational movement relative to the frame;

a hydraulic down-pressure system configured to act upon the gang assembly, the hydraulic down-pressure system comprising a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinders extending between the frame and the left, center and right rock shafts and configured to rotate the rock shafts, wherein the plurality of hydraulic cylinders connect to the plurality of tillage tools through the left, center and right rock shafts such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders provide a downward pressure precharge on the tillage tools;

a hydraulic circuit associated with the hydraulic down-pressure system, the hydraulic circuit including;

a hydraulic supply in a primary side of the hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic down-pressure system includes a pressure reducing valve configured to regulate a pressure in a secondary side of the hydraulic circuit;

a blocking valve configured to isolate the pressure reducing valve and hydraulic circuit from the hydraulic supply; and a pressure gage configured to read the pressure in the secondary side of the circuit and is used so that an operator may use the pressure reducing valve to manually set the pressure in the secondary side; and

wherein controlling the precharge in the secondary side of the hydraulic circuit enables the operator of the implement to adjust the downward pressure precharge provided by the plurality of hydraulic cylinders based on a desired stiffness of the implement, and with the use of the pressure reducing valve to command flow from the hydraulic supply through the pressure reducing valve and put downward pressure precharge on the plurality of tillage tools, and once this desired downward pressure precharge has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply is shut off and the blocking valve holds the pressure such that the plurality of hydraulic cylinders hold their respective tillage tools in the desired position.

2. The tillage implement of claim 1 further comprising frame supporting wheels, the frame supporting wheels being mounted to wheel mounting spars which are rigidly attached to a rock shaft with the rock shaft mounted to the frame for rotational movement relative to the frame controlled by a depth control system, wherein the depth control system includes an actuation mechanism used to rotate the rock shaft and move the frame relative the frame supporting wheels upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the working depth of the tools.

3. The tillage implement of claim 2 wherein the pressure reducing valve is used to command flow from the hydraulic supply through the pressure reducing valve once the implement is at its working depth as set by the depth control system and put downward pressure precharge on the plurality of tillage tools, and once this desired down-pressure has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply is shut off and the blocking valve holds the pressure such that the first and second cylinders hold their respective plurality of tillage tools in the desired position.

4. The tillage implement of claim 3 wherein the pressure reducing valve is a pilot operated, sliding spool, screw in cartridge style, hydraulic pressure reducing valve.

5. The tillage implement of claim 1 wherein the secondary side of the hydraulic circuit is configured such that hydraulic cylinders are configured in series such that hydraulic cylinder is a slave cylinder to the master cylinder.

6. The tillage implement of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic circuit in which the pressure gage includes a suitable transducer and the pressure reducing valve is electronically controlled such that the pressure in the secondary side selectively controlled from the cab of the towing vehicle during operations based on the conditions encountered by the implement.

7. The tillage implement of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic circuit contains a pilot operated blocking valve to isolate the pressure reducing valve and hydraulic circuit from the hydraulic supply.

8. The tillage implement of claim 1 wherein the hydraulic supply is provided by a towing vehicle.

9. The tillage implement of claim 8 wherein a valve in a towing vehicle’s hydraulic system is used to isolate the hydraulic down-pressure system.